Parent's pious gift, or, A choice present for children

THE

PARENT'S PIOUS GIFT;

OR, A

CHOICE PRESENT

FOR

C H I L D R E N:

SET FORTH

In a Dialogue between a

RELIGIOUS FATHER

AND AN

EXTRAVAGANT SON.

To which is added,

A Hymn on the Day of Judgment.

Stirling, Printed by C. Randall, 1798.

THE

PARENT's PIOUS GIFT;

OR, A

Choice Present for Children

FATHER.

TELL me, dear Son, what do you me⟨an⟩ to do?
This vicious course of life will bring you so
Destruction, if you venture to proceed;
Therefore return, return, my son, with speed

SON.

What need you thus concern yourself for me
Resolv'd I am to take my liberty:
Why should I not, since other do?
The world methinks is pleasant to my view.

FATHER.

Those pleasant joys but for a momen: last,
And when the golden stream is gone and pa⟨st⟩
The sting of conscience then brings up the re⟨ar⟩
Consider this, my son, and stand in fear.

SON.

What should I fear that has this world at wi⟨ll⟩
Besides, my fellow-boon companions still
Delight themselves in mirth and jollity;

Behold they feast, dance, drink, & why not(illegible text)

FATHER.

If wilful men will wilfully run on,
And break thro' all the laws of God and man,
It is no Christian argument that you
For friendship's sake, should sin and perish too.

SON.

Perhaps I feast as other gallants may,
Perhaps with wine I pass my time away;
With such delights my senses shall be cloy'd,
Why were they sent if not to be enjoy'd!

FATHER.

My son, these things are as blessings sent
Purely for man's refreshing nourishment;
But if in any wise they are abus'd,
How can you think the sin can be excus'd,
Thy lawless mirth disturbs my quiet rest,
My aged heart lies bleeding in my breast,
To the sad destruction of my Son;
Why will you thus to dismal ruin run?
Why will you not bad company forsake?
Why will you not my Christian counsel take?
Why will you sin and slight the means of grace?
Return, return, whilst thou hast time and space.

SON.

Father should I your awful will obey, [say,
And quite forsake my friends, what would they
Not one of them but will scoff, I am sure,
For serious men they never could endure.
Conscience begins to call me by degrees;
Then were I not in danger to displease
My jovial sriends, I would religious grow,
But they will count me this and that I know.

FATHER.

My son, let lewd company say their worst,
Be thou religious, true, upright and just;
Thou shalt be crown'd with glory for the same,
While those that slight thee may be crown'd with shame.
Pass through the vale of low humility,
And righteous men shall thy companions be;
Whose patience, like a golden shield shall screen
Thy foul, my son, from satan's hateful spleen.
Frequent the church, and put away thy sins:
Keep close to God who is the best of friends,
He'll be thy hope, thy strength, and comfort then;
If so, what need'st thou fear the sons of men?
But should you slight your God, and hug your pride,
If without grace you can be satisfy'd;
If to the house of prayer you will not go,
His love will turn to wrath and endless woe.

SON.

Father, my eyes are open, and I see
Destruction ready to be pour'd on me!
With more than common grief I am opprest,
Where shall I fly to find a place of rest?
If to my wealth, alas! what comfort's there?
If to my pride, that cannot ease my care!
If, lastly, to my tavern friends I fly,
They can't help me, they've sinn'd as well as I.
No hope I have but in my God alone,
Then on my bended knees before the throne
Of grace and mercy will l weep and cry;
Hoping he will vouchsafe to cast an eye
Of pity on a sinner in distress
His laws henceforth: I never will transgress,
But make them say continual rule and guide,
That through his grace I may be glorify'd.

TEMPTER.

I stand amaz'd to see you weeping here,
Your zealous father has been too severe
But mind him not, chear up thy heart with wings,
Whene'er he dies all that he has is thine.

SON.

I neither stand in need of wine or wealth,
It is my precious soul's eternal health
Which I am seeking; tempter don't intrude,
Disturb me not in this my solitude.

TEMPTER.

Disturb thee, no! I come, I come in love,
And would not have thee to aim at things above
Thy understanding; cast that book aside,
And with thy jovial friends be satisfy'd,
There joy and mirth fit for thy blooming years,
Here's nought but sobs with bitter sighs & tears
Chear up, ny darling, and thy joys renew,
Let others weep that ha(illegible text) more cause than you.

SON.

Had ever sinner greater cause than I,
Alas! there does a weighty burden lie
Upon my wounded tender conscience here:
Undone I am if God should be severe.

TEMPTER.

What a strange feud and passion thou art in,
There's many thousands worse than thou hast been
For wickedness, I'll make it well appear,
Who ne'er so much as shed a single tear.
You never dipt your hands in infant's blood!
You ne'er laid cities in a wrecking flood!
These are the sins that do for vengeance call,
But as for thine they're few or none at all.
Perhaps some times at cards or dice you play,
And now and then upon the Sabbath day
You take a glass or bottle with your friends!
What if you do, these are but slender sins!

SON.

How can you these deceitful words express?
What is the dreadful sin of drunkenness,
And the profaning of the sabbath-day
Of such a small account with you, I pray?

TEMPTER.

I charge you in the blessed name
Of our great God to go from whence ye came.

SON.

I've set my hand unto the plough this day,
And, live or die, I'll not be drawn away.

SATAN.

What do you slight my love & kindness then?
If so, perhaps I'll move the sons of men
To prosecute thee even unto death.

SON.

I fear thee not, life's but a blast of breath,
Let wicked men and devils do their worst,
I have a God in whom I put my trust;
Who can and will defend me evermore,
While on my knees I do his aid implore.

When satan found he could not make him yield
With rage and fury straight he quits the field:
While this sweet youth thro' faith and patience run,
To finish the great work he had bugun.
Farewel, farewel, false friends, quoth he, adieu!
I have no pleasure or delight in you;
The grace of God is more to me he cry'd,
Than all the riches in the world beside.
Blessed be God that e'er I was reprov'd;
Blessed be my father, who in kindness moor'd
His stubborn son, by force of argument,
For this has brought me early to repent.

This is a gift for parents far and near,
Present it to their sons and daughters dear,
That by this youth they may a pattern take,
And for the love of God their sins forsake.

---

ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

LET the seventh angel sound on high,
Let shouts be heard thro' all the sky;
Kings of the earth with glad accord,
Give up your Kingdoms to the Lord.

Almighty God thy power assume,
Who wast, and art, and is to come:
Jesus the Lamb, who once was slain,
For ever live, for ever reign!

The angry nations fret and roar,
That they can slay the saints no more:
On wings of vengeance flies our God,
To pay the long arrears of blood.

Now must the rising dead appear;
Now the decisive sentence hear;
Now the dear martyrs of the Lord
Receive an infinite reward.

FINIS.